Dr. John H. Jackson: The Malice of One and the Silence of Many: January 6th is the Emblematic Expression of America's Historic Tension | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The Malice of One and the Silence of Many: January 6th is the Emblematic Expression of America's Historic Tension | Schott Foundation for Public Education

The Malice of One and the Silence of Many: January 6th is the Emblematic Expression of America's Historic Tension

The violent attack on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021 was a stark reminder of America’s historic tensions and struggles. The storming of the Capitol came amid a Pro-Trump protest, by a predominately white and male group of domestic terrorists. Their white privilege assured they could go beyond the police barriers of perimeter and enter the Capitol Building. In the end, many people were injured and five killed, including a Capitol police officer.

What happened is reminiscent of this nation’s historic struggles with race, racism, power, and privilege. For instance, over 150 years ago, a group of southern, Confederate flag-carrying insurgents led the nation into a Civil War. Years later, America is once again met with a similar group of Confederate flag-toting individuals who would rather have no America than exist in an evolving one.

While the pretext for the Capitol riot was to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, the protesters’ words proved that this was less about their candidate losing an election and more about their collective sense of losing their America.

While there is a clear history of violence on American shores, scores of elected officials claimed that the events on Jan. 6 did not represent America or the people of America. While I firmly believe there are indeed more people committed to love and justice in America, what happened at the Capitol last Thursday — as well as the violence that greeted Black Lives Matter demonstrators in D.C. this summer — is evidence of society's clear hierarchy of human value and tolerance for white CONTINUE READING: The Malice of One and the Silence of Many: January 6th is the Emblematic Expression of America's Historic Tension | Schott Foundation for Public Education

How is it that the IEA and other unions endorsed Mike Bost for Congress, a Confederate Insurrectionist? – Fred Klonsky

How is it that the IEA and other unions endorsed Mike Bost for Congress, a Confederate Insurrectionist? – Fred Klonsky

HOW IS IT THAT THE IEA AND OTHER UNIONS ENDORSED MIKE BOST FOR CONGRESS, A CONFEDERATE INSURRECTIONIST?

For nearly 40 years I have scratched my head at many of the political decisions of my teachers’ union, the Illinois Education Association.

A search of past blog posts will illustrate a number of past examples.

Endorsing Congressman Mike Bost is just one example of why I long ago stopped donating to the IEA’s political action fund, IPACE.

In the case of Bost, the IEA was not the only union who endorsed him.

The IEA support for Bost was particularly offensive because aside from being a Republican Trumper, on education issues Bost supported Betsy DeVos’ education agenda.

DeVos was an unrelenting opponent of public education and teacher unions.

Now a petition is calling is calling for the expulsion of Bost from Congress.

Bost pissed off  CONTINUE READING: How is it that the IEA and other unions endorsed Mike Bost for Congress, a Confederate Insurrectionist? – Fred Klonsky